Just how obsolete are DD and DTS?

The answer, quite simply, is yes. THX certification means nothing more than it having been MIXED properly to meet specs. Substantially less important on the video side of life than the audio. Even the audio side is given FAR too much credit for THX certification. There are many amplifiers, where not THX certified, are FAR better than the THX specs.

Now, what you will miss with a processor/decoder/receiver that is not THX certified, and you play a DD/DTS signal is the THX reequalization. What this does is 'even the playing field' and take the very highs out from the DD/DTS signals and increases the voice signals. THX was designed to help ProLogic recordings and not necessarily DD/DTS.
There are newer formats that will help, but it basically makes the sound less harsh.

At normal listening levels you will not hear any differences.

So, get a DD/DTS processor and don't worry about it. If you do not like the 'harshness' of some DD recording, buy a processor that has THX circuitry or a Yamaha (others I am sure) that does Cinema RE-EQ, same thing. For video, it means nothing. All DVD players and LD players will play a THX piece of software just the same.

Dan

THX was basically junk to start off with and that is why the other formats arose. It was easy to improve upon a flawed medium. As such, i would not worry too much about THX and look for the best DD / DTS processor that you can snag for the money. After all, most of these processors DO have tone controls if you find something slightly "edgy" sounding. Sean
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THX means marketing buzz words to impress, and more $$$ for George Lucas.

If you have a DTS setup I think you will be fine for a long time. I have a B&K ref30 with 7 speaker outputs. Big deal where the hell am I going to put all the speakers? 5 channel suround is just fine for me. Last year everybody was freaking out about DTS ES. I think there was 2 movies out in that format at the time. Such a big deal is made about SACD and DVD-A,when the movie soundtrack formats are the biggest joke. You would need to buy a new pre/pro every six months to keep up with it.
Tim

Well guys, you've seen my posts here: I started with a simple 2 channet HT, then a friend gave me a set of used Bose 901 IVs that need refoaming...

About three weeks ago I watched Spiderman in a concave screen movie theatre and they were using Sony digital movie format, if I recall. The way the sound was setup is not feasible for HT. A few days later I went to The Gramophone in Detroit and auditioned a *spectacular* HT setup while watching Pearl Harbor. The surrounds looked like inverted 901's!!!! That's when my mind started running. I CAN build something decent for a reasonable amount. So the DD/DTS pre-proc will do the job...

Cool.